Cloud Computing Studio
Scale your business without scaling your server room
Cloud server infrastructure — scalable and resilient
Cloud adoption driving business growth across Africa
Why It Matters
The Hidden Cost of On-Premise Infrastructure
On-Premise Servers Are Expensive
Maintaining physical servers means paying for hardware, electricity, cooling, dedicated space, and IT staff to manage them. A single server rack costs $10,000–$50,000 upfront — plus $5,000–$15,000 per year in power and maintenance alone.
No Remote Access to Business Data
On-premise systems lock your data inside your office. Staff working remotely, traveling, or at branch locations can't access critical files — slowing productivity and frustrating your team.
Data Loss Risk Without Proper Backup
A single hardware failure, fire, flood, or theft can wipe out years of business data. Without offsite backup and disaster recovery, most businesses that suffer major data loss shut down within 2 years.
Cloud Service Models
IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS
Three levels of cloud services — each offering different levels of control, flexibility, and management.
Infrastructure as a Service
Virtual servers, storage, and networking
Replace physical servers with virtual infrastructure in the cloud. Get compute power, storage, and networking on-demand — scale up or down instantly without buying hardware.
- Virtual machines (VMs) with full OS control
- Scalable block and file storage
- Virtual networking, firewalls, and load balancers
- Pay only for what you use — no idle hardware
Best for: IT teams needing full control over OS and applications
Platform as a Service
Development platforms and databases
Focus on building applications without managing infrastructure. PaaS provides managed databases, runtimes, and development tools — so your developers write code, not server configs.
- Managed databases (SQL, NoSQL, in-memory)
- Pre-configured development runtimes
- CI/CD pipelines and deployment tools
- Auto-scaling and high availability built in
Best for: Developers and teams building custom applications
Software as a Service
Ready-to-use applications
Access software over the internet with no installation, no updates, and no maintenance. From email to CRM to accounting — SaaS applications work from any device, anywhere.
- No installation or local storage required
- Automatic updates and security patches
- Accessible from any device with internet
- Subscription-based pricing — predictable costs
Best for: All users — email, collaboration, productivity, business apps
Deployment Models
Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud
Choose the deployment model that matches your security, compliance, and budget requirements.
Public Cloud
AWS, Azure, Google Cloud
Shared infrastructure managed by cloud providers. Most cost-effective option — you share physical hardware with other tenants but get complete logical isolation of your data and applications.
Advantages
- Lowest upfront cost — no hardware purchase
- Infinite scalability on demand
- Managed by provider — reduced IT overhead
- Global data center availability
Considerations
- Less control over physical infrastructure
- Data resides on shared hardware
- Potential compliance restrictions for some industries
Private Cloud
Dedicated infrastructure
Cloud infrastructure dedicated entirely to your organization. Offers maximum control, security, and customization — at a higher cost than public cloud.
Advantages
- Complete control over hardware and software
- Enhanced security for sensitive data
- Customizable to specific compliance requirements
- Predictable performance — no noisy neighbors
Considerations
- Higher upfront and ongoing costs
- Requires in-house IT expertise to manage
- Limited scalability compared to public cloud
Hybrid Cloud
Mix of Public + Private
The best of both worlds — run sensitive workloads on private infrastructure while leveraging public cloud for scalable, non-sensitive operations. Data and applications move between environments as needed.
Advantages
- Flexibility to choose the right cloud per workload
- Keep sensitive data private, scale the rest publicly
- Cost optimization across environments
- Business continuity with multi-environment failover
Considerations
- More complex to manage and integrate
- Requires strong networking between environments
- Potential vendor lock-in if not designed carefully
Cloud Providers
Major Cloud Platforms
We help you select and deploy on the right platform for your specific needs.
Microsoft Azure
Best for Microsoft 365 Integration
If your business uses Microsoft 365, Azure is the natural choice. Deep integration with Active Directory, Exchange, Teams, and SharePoint. Largest global network of data centers.
- Seamless Microsoft 365 and Active Directory integration
- Hybrid cloud with Azure Arc for on-premise management
- Enterprise-grade security and compliance certifications
- Extensive AI and analytics services
AWS
Widest Service Range
Amazon Web Services offers the broadest set of cloud services — from compute and storage to machine learning and IoT. The most mature cloud platform with the largest global footprint.
- Largest selection of cloud services (200+)
- Most mature and battle-tested platform
- Global infrastructure across 31 regions
- Strong ecosystem of partners and third-party tools
Google Cloud
AI/ML Capabilities
Google Cloud excels in data analytics, machine learning, and Kubernetes. Built on Google's infrastructure that powers Search, YouTube, and Gmail. Strong open-source commitment.
- Industry-leading AI and machine learning tools
- BigQuery for powerful data analytics
- Kubernetes leadership (GKE — first managed K8s)
- Strong data privacy and security commitment
Cloud Solutions
Common Cloud Solutions
Practical cloud services that solve real business problems — from email to disaster recovery.
Microsoft 365
Complete productivity suite — Exchange email, Teams communication, OneDrive file storage, SharePoint collaboration, and full Office apps. Work from anywhere on any device.
- Professional business email with 50GB mailbox per user
- Microsoft Teams for video calls, chat, and meetings
- OneDrive for Business — 1TB cloud storage per user
- Real-time document collaboration in Office apps
Cloud Backup
Automated, encrypted backups that run daily without human intervention. Data is stored offsite in geographically redundant data centers — protected from local disasters.
- Continuous or scheduled automated backups
- AES-256 encryption for data at rest and in transit
- Geographic redundancy across multiple data centers
- Instant recovery — files restored in minutes, not days
Cloud Servers
Virtual machines that replace physical servers — scalable on demand. Launch new servers in minutes, resize as needed, and only pay for compute power you actually use.
- Provision new servers in under 5 minutes
- Scale CPU, RAM, and storage dynamically
- 99.99% uptime SLA with managed infrastructure
- Monthly costs lower than maintaining physical hardware
Cloud Storage
File shares and object storage accessible from anywhere. Perfect for team collaboration, file syncing across devices, and replacing traditional file servers.
- Access files from any device, anywhere with internet
- Automatic file sync across desktop, mobile, and web
- Version history — recover previous file versions
- Granular permissions for team collaboration
Disaster Recovery
Business continuity solutions that ensure your operations resume quickly after any disruption — hardware failure, natural disaster, cyberattack, or human error.
- Recovery Time Objective (RTO) as low as 15 minutes
- Automated failover to secondary environment
- Regular DR testing and validation
- Compliance-ready documentation for audits
Migration Process
Your Path to the Cloud
A proven 5-phase methodology that minimizes risk and ensures zero data loss during migration.
Assessment
Inventory your current infrastructure, applications, and data. Identify dependencies, performance requirements, and compliance constraints.
Planning
Design the target cloud architecture, select providers, plan networking, security, and migration sequences with minimal downtime.
Pilot
Migrate a low-risk workload first to validate processes, test connectivity, and train your team in the new environment.
Migration
Execute the full migration in waves — prioritizing critical systems, validating each phase, and maintaining rollback capability.
Optimization
Monitor performance, right-size resources, optimize costs, and implement ongoing governance to maximize cloud value.
Security in the Cloud
Enterprise-Grade Cloud Security
Cloud security is often stronger than on-premise — with built-in encryption, identity management, and compliance tools.
Encryption at Rest and in Transit
All data is encrypted using AES-256 when stored and TLS 1.3 when transmitted. Encryption keys are managed through dedicated key vaults with customer-controlled access.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Require multiple verification factors — password plus phone, biometric, or hardware token. Blocks 99.9% of account compromise attacks according to Microsoft research.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Assign permissions based on job role, not individual users. Employees only access what they need — principle of least privilege reduces insider threat risk.
Compliance (NITA-U, GDPR)
Meet regulatory requirements with built-in compliance tools. Automated audit logging, data residency controls, and retention policies aligned to NITA-U and GDPR standards.
How It Works
Our 5-Step Cloud Deployment Process
Discovery & Assessment
We evaluate your current infrastructure, workloads, and business requirements to identify the best cloud strategy and migration path.
Architecture Design
Engineers design your cloud environment — selecting providers, sizing resources, planning networking, security controls, and backup strategy.
Security Setup
Configure encryption, identity management, access controls, firewalls, and compliance policies before any data moves to the cloud.
Migration Execution
Migrate data, applications, and workloads in planned waves — with validation at each step and rollback capability if needed.
Optimization & Support
Monitor performance, optimize costs, and provide ongoing management. Monthly reports ensure your cloud environment stays efficient and secure.
What's Included
Everything Your Cloud Migration Needs
A complete list of deliverables included with every cloud engagement. No hidden fees, no surprises.
ROI Analysis
The Value of Cloud Migration
Cost Reduction
Average infrastructure cost savings when migrating from on-premise to cloud — with no upfront hardware investment.
Uptime SLA
Cloud providers guarantee near-absolute availability — compared to 95-98% typical for on-premise systems.
Faster Deployment
New servers provisioned in minutes instead of weeks — no procurement, shipping, or installation delays.
Fewer Security Incidents
Cloud platforms with built-in security, encryption, and compliance reduce breach risk significantly.
Hardware Deferral
Eliminate server refresh cycles — cloud eliminates the need to replace aging hardware every 3-5 years.
Global Access
Your team accesses data and applications from anywhere — office, home, or anywhere in the world.
Before & After
The Cloud Transformation
Before
- Physical servers consuming office space, power, and cooling
- IT staff tied up maintaining hardware instead of strategic projects
- Data accessible only from inside the office network
- No disaster recovery — hardware failure means days of downtime
- Server refresh cycles every 3-5 years costing $10,000-$50,000
- Security patches applied manually and inconsistently
- Scaling up requires weeks of procurement and installation
After
- Servers replaced by scalable cloud infrastructure — no physical hardware
- IT team focused on innovation, not maintenance
- Data and applications accessible from anywhere with internet
- Automated disaster recovery with 15-minute RTO capability
- No hardware refresh costs — provider manages infrastructure
- Security updates applied automatically across all systems
- Scale resources up or down in minutes to match demand
Case Study
Hybrid Cloud Migration for Financial Services
Kampala, Uganda — Financial Services
120 staff across 3 branches
Challenge
A financial services firm was running all operations on aging on-premise servers — some over 7 years old. They experienced monthly unplanned downtime, staff couldn't access systems remotely, and their disaster recovery plan was a hard drive in a safe. Regulatory requirements from the Bank of Uganda demanded better data protection and audit capabilities.
Solution
Backspace designed a hybrid cloud strategy — migrating email and collaboration to Microsoft 365, application servers to Azure VMs, and keeping sensitive financial databases on a private cloud segment. Implemented Azure AD for identity management, automated daily backups to Azure Blob Storage, and a disaster recovery site in a separate Azure region.
Results
- Monthly downtime reduced from 12 hours to under 30 minutes
- Staff can work remotely — access systems from any device, anywhere
- Disaster recovery tested quarterly — recovery in 15 minutes vs 3 days
- Infrastructure costs reduced by 38% in the first year
- Passed Bank of Uganda compliance audit on first attempt
- IT team redirected 60% of time from maintenance to innovation projects
FAQ
Common Questions
How long does a cloud migration take?
Most migrations take 4-12 weeks depending on complexity. A simple email migration to Microsoft 365 can be done in 1-2 weeks. A full infrastructure migration with multiple applications typically takes 6-12 weeks. We start with a detailed assessment to provide an accurate timeline for your specific situation.
Will my data be secure in the cloud?
Cloud security is often stronger than on-premise. All major providers offer encryption at rest (AES-256) and in transit (TLS 1.3), multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, and compliance certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR). We implement additional security layers including Azure Sentinel threat detection and private network segments.
What's the difference between public, private, and hybrid cloud?
Public cloud shares infrastructure with other tenants (most cost-effective). Private cloud is dedicated to your organization (maximum control). Hybrid cloud combines both — sensitive data stays private while scalable workloads run on public infrastructure. Most businesses benefit from a hybrid approach that balances cost, control, and flexibility.
How much does cloud migration cost?
Costs depend on your current infrastructure and target environment. Most businesses save 30-50% compared to maintaining on-premise servers when factoring in hardware, power, cooling, space, and IT staff. We provide a detailed cost analysis during the assessment phase, including projected monthly cloud costs vs current infrastructure expenses.
Can I keep some systems on-premise?
Yes — hybrid cloud is one of our most popular solutions. You can keep sensitive databases or legacy applications on-premise while migrating email, collaboration tools, and scalable workloads to the cloud. This gives you the flexibility to move workloads at your own pace while maintaining control over critical systems.
Ready to Move to the Cloud?
Get a free cloud assessment and custom migration plan for your business. No commitment required.